Oneida native Chauncey "Champ" Winchell sentenced to life without parole for 2008 murder of Mark Murray of Syracuse

David Lassman / The Post-StandardChauncey Winchell (right) maintains his innocence before sentencing for first-degree murder in Judge Dennis K. McDermott's court in the Madison Co. Courthouse in Wampsville. His lawyer Neal Rose is at left.

Mark Murray called his son at 2:53 p.m. on May 22, 2008 to tell him he would be late for his lacrosse game.

He never made it to the game and was never heard from again.

The 41-year-old Syracuse man's remains were found nearly two years later, in a shallow grave off Canal Road in the city of Oneida. He had been shot two times in the head.

On Wednesday, Bryan Murray addressed the man who killed his father.

“If someone can be so careless with someone else’s life, I don’t believe they should be allowed to live,” Bryan Murray said. “I hope he rots in jail for the rest of his life.”

After a three-week jury trial that included testimony from 40 witnesses and more than 100 exhibits, a jury of nine men and three women deliberated a little more than two hours Feb. 21 before finding Oneida native Chauncey “Champ” Winchell guilty of first-degree murder.

On Wednesday, Winchell was sentenced to life without parole for the first-degree murder charge and received the maximum sentences for nine other counts, including robbery, criminal possession of a weapon and unauthorized use of a vehicle.

Madison County Judge Dennis McDermott recalled the testimony of the woman who found Murray’s remains while she was fishing on the banks of Cowaselon Creek. As she waited for police to arrive, she knelt down and said a prayer.

“Her kindness and thoughtfulness stands in stark contrast to the evil that caused (Murray’s) death,” McDermott said. “Evil of that magnitude must never be allowed to live in free society.”

Chief Assistant District Attorney Bob Mascari called Winchell a “self-centered sociopath,” who told others of his plans to kill Murray, steal his car and dispose of his remains.

“This was a planned, calculated, cold-blooded murder,” Mascari said. “There are no other words to describe it. It is the definition of depravity.”

Winchell – who did not take the stand to testify on his own behalf – maintained his innocence Wednesday.

“I feel for you, young man,” Winchell said to Bryan Murray. “I hope you find the man who killed your father. I’m just not the one.”

Court-appointed defense attorney Neal Rose said he will file an appeal.